November 10, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Charlie Foss

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE CHALLENGE FOR OUR HOME TEAM: When the sun came up Wednesday, the day after Election Day, the nation was still unsettled over who would be moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in January, but in Newtown it was perfectly clear that voters were happy with their elected representatives. From US senator to state representative, local voters chose to return their incumbent legislators to Hartford and Washington, DC.

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Newtown’s population may have already surpassed the 25,000-person mark, according to local officials who continue to monitor the town’s unprecedented growth. Earlier this year, the state Department of Health put Newtown’s population at more than 24,300 people, but those figures are more than a year old and the health department tends to underestimate them anyway, according to John Chew, director of the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials. “I think the 2000 Census will show that number to be significantly higher than the 24,300 figure,” said Mr Chew.

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Good things do come in small packages. The Erhardt siblings’ good deed of donating $52 to help rebuild the Treadwell Park Playground after it had been burned down has brought them the very things for which they had been saving before they made their donation. Spencer and Madison had been out of town when the news first broke about the damage to the newly built playground. But when they got home and saw it on television and read about it in the newspaper, Spencer got his piggy bank with Madison right behind him, and decided to give the money he was saving for a Game Boy cartridge and what she was saving for a “white horsey” to help rebuild the playground. … Anonymous donations have refunded the siblings’ money to them in their mailbox. Not only has money been left, but also Spencer received the Game Boy cartridge he had been saving for, Madison was offered a horse of her own, and one local couple invited Madison to visit their home for a ride on one of their horses.

November 7, 1975

Democrat Jack H. Rosenthal was elected Newtown’s next First Selectman Tuesday, to head a local government for the next two years which will be otherwise dominated by Republicans. Capitalizing on division within Republican ranks as to the performance of incumbent Frank R. DeLucia and the results of an intensive door-to-door campaign, Mr Rosenthal, 56, gained the position that had eluded him four times in the past.

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On October 21, “Lou” Pelletier was the honored recipient of a fraternal “roast.” The Stony Hill Inn was the setting for the event. Eight-five members of the American Society for Industrial Security gathered to honor Lou for the professionalism he has shown this Society. … Lou Pelletier is Chairman of the Board at L.E. Pelletier & Associates. His firm has specialized in fire and security alarm systems for the past 16 years. Lou has been active with the Newtown Fire Companies, Chamber of Commerce, and Red Cross Disaster team for many years.

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Newtown had a Bicentennial happening on Sunday, November 2, when the members of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company conducted a Bicentennial flag Dedication ceremony on the Dodgingtown Green. A good number of residents came out for the observance which began with a drill by the Belvederes Color Guard. … The highlight of the afternoon was the raising of a Bennington ‘76 Bicentennial Flag as the band played The National Anthem.

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Mr and Mrs Walter L. Glover, life-long residents of Newtown, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party given by their children and families, Mr and Mrs James W. Crick Jr of 7 Glover Avenue and Mr and Mrs Lee W. Glover of Newtown and Monroe, on November 2 at the home of Mr and Mrs Crick. Mr and Mrs Glover now reside at 35 Main Street and previously lived in the family residence on Glover Avenue, which was named after Mr Glover’s family.

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Friends and neighbors of Shelley Warren, Miss Teenage Newtown and Miss Teenage Fairfield County, showed up at the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall on Sunday afternoon to wish Shelley good luck as she sets off to compete in national competition for the Miss Teenage America title in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That competition will be televised nationally on November 15. The sendoff for Shelley was hosted by members of the Newtown Exchange Club, sponsors of the local contest.

November 3, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — VOTE: November 7th brings a state election. It seems most unnecessary to remind anyone of the approaching date for the casting of ballots, in view of the hotly-contested battle for popular support which has been going on during the past few weeks all over the state. … Irrespective of the character of the current campaign, however, it now remains for the voters to go to the polls on Tuesday and cast their ballots. We hope that no one will overlook his obligation in that respect. For, after all, Connecticut belongs to all of us. Our money will run it, and the men whom we elect to office will have its administration in their hands.

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On Monday evening of this week, the Newtown League of Women Voters held its third annual candidates meeting in the Alexandria Room of the Emond Town Hall, providing an open forum for state and local candidates to meet the voters of the town, discuss their respective platforms and answer questions from the floor. The meeting was very well attended, with the Alexandria Room being filled to capacity. Mrs Herman E. deVries, league president, was chairman, and Mrs Warner W. Bayley, moderator.

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The editor of The Bee is indebted to William Harris for a copy of The Miami Herald of October 19th, showing in many pictures the great amount of damage done there in the recent hurricane. “Bill” sends his best regards to all his Newtown friends.

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On Thursday evening of last week Town Players gave its fourth in a series of five plays for the 1950 season, the performance taking place in the Edmond Town Hall theatre. The play was George Kelly’s domestic drama, “Craig’s Wife,” written and produced 25 years ago. That it won a Pulitzer Prize a quarter of a century ago seems reasonably odd, unless fashions in plays change as quickly as do costumes of the performers, for the drama is built upon talk, and pretty inflated talk at that. Nowadays, communication between persons seems somewhat simpler. The leading players are called upon to recite lines which for sheer heft and lengthy of sentence structure, defy analysis.

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The 95th annual meeting of the Newtown Savings Bank, which was held on Friday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the director’s room at the bank was a significant meeting in the bank’s long history, closing the active banking career of Arthur T. Nettleton, who has been connected with the institution for 52 years. Mr Nettleton’s resignation as president and treasurer was presented at the meeting of the corporators. It was accepted with much regret, but with a full realization that Mr Nettleton’s failing health made it impossible for him to continue in office. … In the election of officers, Representative George M. Stuart was elected president to succeed Mr Nettleton, who was named to the honorary position of president emeritus.

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Mr and Mrs Harold W. Steck and daughters of Palestine District, left on Sunday to spend the winter in Westport.

November 6, 1925

Arrangements have been made by the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., for a novel entertainment to be given in the Town hall, free of charge, Wednesday, November 11, at 8 p.m., when a demonstration will be given of the operation of a telephone switchboard. The Fire Department has secured the co-operation of the telephone company and this demonstration, which has been given in several places of the state has met with favor everywhere because it helps teach the proper use of that useful instrument and is highly entertaining and amusing.

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A very satisfactory meeting, well attended, of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1, Inc., was held on Monday night, in the new rooms over the store of Morris & Shepard. William Baxter, George Stuart, Robert Tiemann and Walter L. Glover were elected to membership. It was voted that the Foremen should bring in a list of members and assign each one to a position in case of fire. It is determined to break up the practice of outside men rushing in and giving orders at times of fires, hindering the work of the company in their efforts.

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A fire broke out about 5.15 on Saturday night in the Congregational church parsonage. Rev G. Ekins had just returned from Putnam Park with an auto load of his boy Scout members. As he unlocked his front door he was greeted by a gust of black smoke which drove him backward. Calling to A.P. Smith, who had just driven up, he asked Mr Smith to turn in the alarm. … The fire, evidently started from a defective chimney, had worked through a closet to the second floor.

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IT’S A MEAN MAN WHO WILL STEAL A FARMER’S PRODUCE — October 27, 1925, To the Editor of The Bee:— Dear Sir, I think it will be good for some one to read the news from The Bee. It may stop him from stealing more corn stalks from my corn field. The news is this: For the last few nights I have lost a bundle of corn stalks every night. For good reason I count the bundles in the evening before I leave the field and in the morning always one missing. J Miller. Hawleyville, Conn.

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The funeral of Mrs Catharine Donahue, of Hanover, widow of John Donahue, was largely attended on Friday morning from St Rose’s church, Rev W.H. Kennedy officiating. The burial was in St Rose’s cemetery. In attendance at the funeral were: Mr and Mrs James O’Rourke, of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs Patrick Haugh of Waterbury, John Donahue of New Rochelle, N.Y., Mrs Mary Donahue and Miss Elenore Donahue of New York and Mr and Mrs James Donahue of Brooklyn. The pallbearers were Patrick F. Keating, Patrick Donahue, John Donahue, Edward Donahue, Corenlius Haugh and James Troy.

November 9, 1900

TOWN TOPICS — HATTERTOWN: Ernest Northrop is clerking at Hawley’s store, Stepney. | A daughter was born to Mr and Mrs Robert Davis, last week Monday, the 29th. | Andrew J. Summers of New York has spent several days with his brother, John H. Summers. | Thomas Perkins is making preparations for erecting a barn on the Sylvia Northrop place, recently purchased by Mr Hawley. | J.C. Lewis and Perry Hubbell are shooting lots of birds, this fall. Their record for last week was 84.

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W.A. Canfield has butchered several fine two-year-old steers purchased of Zalmon S. Peck of Mile Hill.

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Mrs A.P. Smith and Miss Hazel Smith visited Mrs S.H. Smith in Bridgeport on Tuesday.

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Z.S. Peck, who voted on Tuesday, said it was the 17th time he had voted for President.

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List of letters remaining in the Newtown post office, November 1, 1900, Dr N. Allen, Miss May Beardsley, Lucy Booth, Phillip Davis, M. Morturano Antonio.—[George F. Duncombe, postmaster

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